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Top 10 things to do in Miami

With a relaxed beach life and Cuban-bred passion for partying, this Floridian metropolis is a pastel paradise for people watching. And animals too! Here are Miami's top 10 attractions.

Fisher Island

Home to superstars and the mega-rich, the most affluent corner of the US isn't open to just anyone, but you can get pretty close to Fisher Island on a boat tour of the bay.

Photo: LEONARDO DASILVA@ Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Miami Seaquarium

"Flipper" was filmed at the US' oldest oceanarium on Virginia Key, but there are more creatures at the Miami Seaquarium than just performing marine animals – aquatic and otherwise!

Gator Park

Gator Park is the place to go if you want to see alligators, of course, but take an airboat tour of this Everglades attraction for snakes, turtles, and exotic birds too!

Miami Museum of Science

2015 sees the grand reopening of Miami's leading science museum, but this is Miami so there are animals here too. Check out the bird of prey center!

South Beach

Home to the famous Ocean Drive, the first part of Miami to be developed is arguably still the most... well, Miami-ish. South Beach remains one of the city's best beaches too.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Once known as Villa Vizcaya, this opulent estate is now open to the public to walk around and think about moving there upon winning the lottery.

Photo: Marc Averette @Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0)

Miami Children's Museum

With exhibits catered to the young (and young at heart), this is a great place to take the family, especially if your children are averse to regular museums!

Zoo Miami

Miami's climate makes it the ideal location for the only tropical zoo in the US. For a small fee you can even feed the giraffes!

Miami Beach Architectural District

This historic district of Miami Beach is sometimes referred to as the Art Deco District. No prizes for guessing which style of architecture dominates its postcard-perfect streets!

Photo: Phillip Pessar @Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Bass Museum of Art

With art from the Renaissance to the present day, the city's leading gallery occupies Miami Beach's old public library building.

Planning Your Miami Visit

When to go?

The city's basketball team is called the Miami Heat for a reason. The tropical monsoon climate means it's always hot, although you can expect thunderstorms in summer and hurricane season runs for as long as June to November. Nevertheless, it's perfect for sunbathing in winter!

How many days?

Most of Miami Beach's best attractions can be covered in 3 or 4 days, but book at least a week if you want to see more of the city and/or go to the Everglades.

How safe is it?

Despite its depiction in movies, much of Miami is pretty safe. Like most cities though, it has parts tourists would be smart to avoid. High-crime areas include Biscayne Boulevard, Liberty City, Opa-Locka, and Overtown. Unlike the others, you might have reason to go to Miami's Downtown district, but stay alert, especially after dark.

Other Sightseeing Options in Miami

What people are saying about Miami

Exceptional Tour of Artwork Beyond the Walls

Our group of 4 had a fantastic experience on this tour with our knowledgable and helpful guide Lance. I have taken this tour twice - and Lance made it all see new! Many of the art tours take you to the same places: Wynwood Walls, and the nearby side streets. By taking the golf cart you get to see artwork that is not on the main drag.
Most fascinating for us was the Eneida M. Hartner elementary school that serves as a monumental stage for a multitude of carefully curated artists. It was fascinating! You can read about the positive changes the art project made in the community here: http://www.therawproject.org/
We were also amused at the sight of a photographer taken multiple selfies at the "Booty Wall"!
If you are wavering on whether to book this tour , worry no more. It was worth every single penny! Our group aged 26-68 thought it was a unique experience not to be missed.
And - make sure you ask for Lance. He was far superior to the driver I had the first time I did the tour...

A value for money taster of the vast Everglades

We were picked up right on time (10am) from the Holiday Inn which was close to the college Bayside Metromover stop and easy to find. It's about a 45 minute coach ride (airconditioned, not too cold) drive to the Everglades centre. We had 10 minutes for a quick look at the souvineers and boarded one of the boats for the 1 hour tour of the Everglades waterways. We saw 2 alligators - they swam close to the boat - and lots of great birdlife. The guide was fun and informative.
After the tour we had about a 10 minute wait then saw the alligator show - about 15 minutes of a brave young alligator rescuer showing her wrestling skills and talking about her work to remove 'problem' alligators from public areas and homes. Then it was back on the bus and home.
The $40 fee included 2 large glossy photos per group - one by the river before the boat trip and one after the alligator show holding a baby 'gator. As I was travelling alone, this was especially good value for money!

Absolutely perfect! A real adventure in the land of saw grass!

The guide did a really great job. He managed to describe and show us some unique parts of Everglades with all of its glory and wild life. During the relatively short trip of 1,5 hours we saw a number of different birds, flowers and - of course - gators, some of them very close to the boat. A fantastic experience. The guide was very helpful and could really provide us with a lot of interesting information about the wildlife in the area. This is a real Everglades tour without restaurants and gift shops. So nice! Our strongest recommendation: buckle up and go with the air boat!

Good value for money tour. Great show and boat ride.

We booked this and were there early. But the bus had already left - we saw it leave 7-8 minutes early as we were approaching the pick up point! We contacted the company and got rebooked for the next day. We caught this bus and it was a great day. The show was entertaining and the boat ride both fun and great for seeing the wildlife in the Everglades. Saw a few gators up close which was awesome!

Nice mixture of activities but some repitition

The Everglades and baby alligators were amazing. A bit too much waiting round at the end though. Very nice coach. Bus trip suffered due to the busy traffic and it isn't a city that lends itself to a bus tour. The guide was charismatic and kept the energy up. Boat trip was a great way to see Miami and it was a great vibe. Good way to end an enjoyable day.